Climate Change Impacts on Cultural Heritage Sites in Nigeria: An Assessment of the Legal Framework

Abstract

Climate change has been a global environmental and developmental concern bedeviling nations of the world. With the rising temperatures happening globally, are the consequences of the increase: sea level rise due to melting glaciers and ice caps, coastal erosion, inundation, destruction of lives and properties, tangible cultural heritage inclusive. This article is set to look at the importance of cultural heritage, impact of Climate change on cultural heritage, while also examining the protection of cultural heritage within the ambit of national and international laws. The article is however limited to discussion on tangible cultural heritage. The doctrinal research method was adopted with the use of primary and secondary sources of information. Some of the sources include the:1972 World Heritage Convention, 1954 Hague Convention on the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict, Nigeria Commission for Monuments and Museums Act 1979, books and the Internet. It was found that UNESCO acquiesces to the fact that there are evidences to show that climate change is having impacts on cultural heritage on a global scale, however, Nigeria has not carried out any research to determine impacts of climate change on Nigeria’s cultural heritage properties. It is recommended that the necessary processes and mechanisms be established to determine the impacts of climate change on Nigeria’s immovable tangible cultural heritage and the law should be amended to protect cultural heritage assets of the country.

Keywords: Assessment, Climate change, Cultural heritage, Impacts, Legal Framework

DOI: 10.7176/JLPG/147-05

Publication date: May 28^th 2025